Wadjemup welcomes Noongar Boodja
Made possible through a Gift from The Copland Foundation, Noongar Boodja was welcomed to Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) with a small smoking ceremony to cleanse and protect him from bad spirits, by Neville Collard a Whadjuk Noongar Elder
The $25,000 Copland Foundation grant, secured by the Rottnest Foundation, enabled the commissioning of the bronze bust by artists Nicole and Alex Mickle of Shoalhaven Studios.
Rottnest Island is located on Whadjuk Noongar country and is referred to by its Traditional Owners as Wadjemup, which translates as, ‘place across the water where the spirits are’ (Nannup via Stasiuk, 2015, p.32). The Island is significant for Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. Between 1838 to 1931, Rottnest was a prison for more than 4,000 Aboriginal boys and men from across Western Australia, with at least 373 of them dying on the Island during their imprisonment. Consequently, Wadjemup is Australia’s largest known deaths’ in custody site. The Island is also one of Western Australia’s largest 19th century heritage estates, with many of its significant buildings constructed during the 1800s, with Aboriginal forced labour.
Noongar Boodja is on permanent display in the newly refurbished Wadjemup Museum sculpture garden, where Sculpture at Wadjemup, a temporary year-long exhibition of eight sculptures is currently on display.
Neville believes Noongar Boodja provides a very powerful presence as he looks over towards the Quod, which was used to house the Aboriginal prisoners. Neville also requested Noongar Boodja be referred to as ‘balang’ (Noongar word – many, they, them) as he represents all Noongar men.
Noongar Boodja was officially acknowledged at the Wadjemup Cup and Rottnest Island Authority Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) launch on 6 November 2021. Pam Thorley, Wadjemup Aboriginal Reference Group member also acknowledged the significance of Noongar Boodja who represents all Noongar men, positioned to look over the Quod and Aboriginal Burial Ground, a site of pain and sadness for many Western Australian Aboriginal peoples. Pam explained the lasting impact the forced removal and incarceration of these men; elders, fathers, brothers, sons has had on the community and the importance of truth telling and healing.
The Rottnest Foundation greatly appreciates the support provided by The Copland Foundation for the acquisition of Noongar Boodja.